|
HobbyCraft’s 52nd Store Opens Today
Listed under: News
Published: Thursday, May 26, 2011
Retail giant HobbyCraft opens its 52nd store today in Orpington, Greater London, unveiling a more vibrant, feminine look and style in the process.
The chain, the largest by far of its kind in the UK and Europe, has changed its interior design slightly in order to appeal more to a specific market sector. “Our new stores will have a more vibrant, feminine and softer look,” says chief executive Catriona Marshall, who took over from Chris Crombie in January of this year.
“We're making craft more appealing to a younger audience; 25 – 35 year old women with children, and so we're making the stores as attractive and accessible as possible to encourage people to just walk through the door and have a go at something.”
The new store itself has a more landscaped feel than previous stores with clear navigation, colour zoned areas, lower fixtures, and a department store feel.
HobbyCraft has recently opened stores in Croydon, Basingstoke, Chelmsford and Norwich, and Catriona told Craft Business that the plan is to open another 50 stores within the next few years.
The chain was started in 1995 by the Haskins Group and was sold last year to private equity firm Bridgepoint. The bidding process was so hotly contested that the finally selling price was pushed up to more than £100 million from an initial starting point of approximately £75 million.
Read the unmissable interview with HobbyCraft's chief executive Catriona Marshall on her plans for the chain's future, only in the June/July issue of Craft Business magazine.
“We're making craft more appealing to a younger audience; 25 – 35 year old women with children, and so we're making the stores as attractive and accessible as possible to encourage people to just walk through the door and have a go at something.”
The new store itself has a more landscaped feel than previous stores with clear navigation, colour zoned areas, lower fixtures, and a department store feel.
HobbyCraft has recently opened stores in Croydon, Basingstoke, Chelmsford and Norwich, and Catriona told Craft Business that the plan is to open another 50 stores within the next few years.
The chain was started in 1995 by the Haskins Group and was sold last year to private equity firm Bridgepoint. The bidding process was so hotly contested that the finally selling price was pushed up to more than £100 million from an initial starting point of approximately £75 million.
Read the unmissable interview with HobbyCraft's chief executive Catriona Marshall on her plans for the chain's future, only in the June/July issue of Craft Business magazine.
